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| Informer jibes anger Shevchenko |
1/18/2007 |
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Chelsea striker Andriy Shevchenko is furious at reports that he has become an unsettling influence at the club.
The 30-year-old striker is seen as the cause of a conflict between manager Jose Mourinho and the club''s hierarchy.
He has been accused of being the dressing-room ''spy'' of owner and friend Roman Abramovich but has strongly denied the accusations.
"I am being made a scapegoat for things that have nothing to do with me," Shevchenko told The Times.
He added: "My contract runs for four years. I am here now and I am staying here. I am continuing to work to fit inside the team.
"I have been attacked from all sides but I intend to carry on. I will grit my teeth. I am not a quitter I just want to be kept out of the politics."
It is no secret that Abramovich wanted Shevchenko and the Ukraine star moved to Chelsea in a £30m summer deal from AC Milan.
They have caused a lot of hurt to myself and my family - I am a footballer, not a politician
Andriy Shevchenko
But he has struggled to fit into Mourinho''s plans and reports suggest that new striking arrivals have been blocked with Abramovich keen for his manager to get the best out of Shevchenko.
Chelsea have yet to make any signings in the January transfer window, even though they have lost key players and fallen six points behind Manchester United in the Premiership title race.
Shevchenko''s form - he has just three Premiership goals in 20 top-flight outings - has been a source of concern with his relationship with Abramovich resulting in accusations of him reporting back about team affairs to the Russian.
"Those rumours are all lies," said Shevchenko. "A lot of things have been said which aren''t true.
"They have caused a lot of hurt to myself and my family. I am a footballer, not a politician.
Chelsea boss Mourinho is not convinced by Shevchenko
"My job is to play, that''s all. It is what I''ve been doing since I was nine-years-old. People are crossing the limits in what they are saying."
Shevchenko has not been involved in Chelsea''s last two games because of a hamstring injury, which has been called into question in some quarters.
He is fit ahead of the game at Liverpool on Saturday but, with Mourinho unhappy at his contribution, his inclusion at best is set to see him earn a place on the bench.
"If he decides I am not capable I just have to work harder," said Shevchenko. "It doesn''t matter what I think."
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